The Virgin Islands lost one of its most familiar, funny, and best-loved voices early Friday morning with the death of Nicky "Mighty Whitey" Russell.
The entertainer, 60, died at home, after a long battle with a crippling disease, said his wife and longtime singing partner, "Mighty Wifey" Janet Reiter.
Russell was one of those personalities who are so much a part of local life and folklore that his demise seems unbelievable to his many fans and friends, though knowledge of the severity of his disease has been no secret.
He most recently appeared at a benefit at Hull Bay, though not on stage. He relaxed in a chaise lounge, listening to musical tributes, surrounded by dozens of fans and friends lending support and love to him and Reiter.
Reiter was gracious Saturday evening, sharing a few memories, and speaking of the widowhood cast upon her in the last 36 hours. "If there’s a rule book for this time," she said in a wryly subdued voice, "I didn’t get it."
To a wide swath of friends, Russell was simply the spirit of St. Thomas, on stage at Chili Cook-Offs, at Lionel Roberts Stadium belting out calypso songs, on WVWI radio, at the post office chatting with everyone in sight, behind the mic at Tickles, on his motorcycle, on the stump in 2006 when he made a respectable run for a Senate seat.
They say if you remember the ‘60s, you weren’t really there. It also could be said that if you’ve lived on St. Thomas any time in the past four decades and haven’t been touched by the music and spirit of the indomitable Russell, you weren’t really here — or at least you weren’t having much fun.
Russell has been an integral part of local history since he started making it himself. In 1977, in his mid-20s, he decided that he was ready for the great white way, or the St. Thomas version of it — Carnival Calypso Tent. Announcing himself as "Mighty Whitey," he strode on stage and sang his own songs, “Tonight I Wearing the Crown” and “Move Your Muddah Ass."
And he came in second, no mean feat for a young white guy among the established West Indian Calypsonians. He competed in 1978, as well, with the same result. But he had crossed a cultural divide and never looked back.
Russell had his own style and he stuck to it. On stage, he played alone with his stories and his guitar. "Over the years I’ve been in lots of bands," he said in an interview a few years ago, "But I like to play solo. It’s easier and you don’t have to worry about everybody else showing up."
"I don’t necessarily sing songs the way they’re written," he said. "If you wanted that, you could just buy a CD."
His friends and fans are as loyal to Russell as he has been to them. Quitting simply wasn’t in his genes. He headlined at all but one of the 15 St. Thomas Bacchanals in Florida, most recently attending this years’ two celebrations – one on land and one at sea. – accompanied this year by Reiter, as his health deteriorated.
There will be a celebration of Russell’s life at Magens Bay from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 18, which Reiter urges everyone to attend. The couple was married at Magens Bay in 2005.
